Battle of Chios

Battle of Chios was fought in 201 BCE during the First Macedonian War (214-205 BCE) between Philip V of Macedon and the Rhodian Navy.
The Rhodian Navy won the Battle.

201 BCE. The Battle of Chios was one of two Battles, the first was a coastal Battle in the Chios Channel between Chios and Asia Minor. The second Battle took place at Lade.

After the First Macedonian War (215-205 BCE) against Rome had ended, Philip V of Macedon set about to preserve his influence in Greece.
To consolidate his power, Philip V of Macedon wanted to crush the powerful Rhodian Navy. He built his own Fleet and also made an alliance with the Pirates of Crete. He then set about invading the city states in the Aegean who were allied to Rhodes.

Winner: Rhodes and the Rhodian Navy and the Navies of Pergamum, Cyzicus and Byzantium,
Loser: Macedonia under Philip of Macedon and the Pirates of Crete.

King Philip V of Macedon using a flagship with 10 banks of rowers.
- versus:
Rhodians: King Attalus I and Theophiliscus of Rhodes (who later died of his wounds).

Total Fleet: c. 200 vessels
- 53 Cataphracts
- 150 Lembos.
Losses: 28 Cataphracts, 70 Lembos. Total: 92 ships sunk, 7 captured, 10,000 dead. 2,000 captured.

Both Navies aligned themselves in the southern part of the Chios Channel, between Chios and Asia Minor.
Although Philip V of Macedon outnumbered the Rhodian Fleet by two to one, his sailors were inexperienced.

The Macedonian Fleet appears to have divided itself, with Philip V pursuing the flagship of Attalus I, which ran aground on the coast of Asia Minor. When Philip V towed it through the Fleet from Pergamun, the Pergamun Navy thought they had lost and withdrew. Philip V then retreated.
However, the second part of the Macedonian Fleet was engaged near the coast of Chios and experienced severe losses.
Philip V was forced to withdraw his Fleet, but his Army was able to take Chios. He pursued the Rhodian Navy and its Allies to Lade.
At the Battle of Lade, he had too few ships to defeat the Rhodians, and was obliged to withdraw again.

The Rhodian Navy successfully prevented Philip V of Macedon from asserting control over all of Greece.
Despite the Rhodian success, the Roman Republic saw Philip V as the main threat to be eliminated and decided to expand their influence into Greece. This led to the Second Macedonian War (200-196 BCE).

Chios, Greece